Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/240136
GUEST COLUMN By Deborah Thorne My first DE. And I am still grinning ear to ear! My stomach was filled with butterflies as I tossed an overnight bag into the 996 to head North as this was no ordinary weekend get away with my husband. This weekend my ego, skill and everything I knew about driving would be put to the test. This weekend was to be my first driving adventure at MAM. I'd imagined this day for quite some time. I could see myself in complete control of the car as I quickly down shifted and hugged the inside corner, hit the apex and exploded with a burst of speed down the straight. People would marvel at my natural ability to feel the track, anticipate the execution of the straightest line and finally end my run, remove my helmet 20 and have my hair cascade down my shoulders just like Danica. I was going to be great. dropping. And FUN. Right then and there, strapped into that orange monster, I knew I was hooked. I wanted to learn how to THAT. Bob Wayman had graciously volunteered to be my instructor, so my first wheels on the track were as a passenger in the "Pumpkin". Wow! It was an awesome ride. Thrilling, Exhilarating, Stomach The next ride was again as a passenger in my 996 with Bob at the wheel. It was amazing how he nimbly maneuvered the car around the track with such precision and ease. It was as though the car just knew what to do. I was reminded these machines were built for this. Bob was a master. It was like watching a conductor move effortlessly through the third movement of Mozart's Requiem. It was beautiful. Now it was my turn to get behind the wheel. As I pulled the seatbelt tightly around my waist, the butterflies were beginning to fade. There was no way I could run the car as hard a Bob just did so I was fairly confident I would end the first session on all four wheels. I just needed to trust him and relax. I was seated next to the master and it was time to become his student. Pay attention. Keep your eyes up. Use the whole track (whatever THAT meant). Brake hard. Turn in tight. Let the car unwind. At the end of the first session, I my hopes of being a "natural" were quickly dashed, but I promise you it would be weeks before I'd be able to wipe this big, cheesy grin off my face. I was terrible, but it was AWESOME. I could hardly wait to get back out on the track. I wanted to do it over and over again. I wanted the time to become better. Go faster, Smoother. See the track more clearly. Find the sweet spot. January / February 2014